Disposable staple element container cartridge



H. LERNER May 19, 1964 DISPOSABLE STAPLE ELEMENT CONTAINER CARTRIDGE 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Original Filed April 20, 1953 INVENTOR.

H. LERNER 3,133,714

DISPOSABLE STAPLE ELEMENT CONTAINER CARTRIDGE May 19, 1964 Original Filed April 20, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 72 F W, R I r 4? a I 5 57 a z; I- I. r u a 75 a w 62 i 4 United States Patent ()fiFice 3,133,714 Patented May 19, 1 964 3,133,714 DISPOSABLE STAPLE ELEMENT CONTAINER CARTRIDGE Hershey Lerner, Bayside, N.Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Inventions Management Corporation, Raieigh, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Griginal application Apr. 20, 1953, Ser. N 349,862, now Patent No. 2,938,212, dated May 31, 196i). Divided and this application Mar. 23, 1955, Ser. No. 496,133

21 (Ilaims. (Cl. 242-193) The subject matter of this invention is directed to a disposable cartridge adapted to be removably received in a stapling machine or tacker and adapted to utilize a flexible and resilient staple element belt adapted to be formed into a roll or pack comprising juxtapositioned and substantially rectilinear wire elements. The object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel cartridge having a container for supporting the roll or pack and provided with an opening for issuing the foremost staple element strip of the belt out of the container for cooperating with slidably and swingably retained feeding means carried by the container outside thereof for moving the strip automatically and intermittently away from the opening and to operating parts of the stapling machine or tacker. Another object resides in the provision of a disposable cartridge wherein the feeding means carried by the container comprises spaced swingable and slidable spaced pawls and resilient means in the form of a bent loop carried by the pawls and cooperating with the container for normally urging the pawls away from the opening of the container through which the strip is issued. More specifically, another object resides in the provision of tooth means on the pawls cooperating with resilient fingers depending from the resilient loop for receiving and straddling the longitudinal margins of the strip and for initially idly shifting rearwardly relative to the strip on the application of pressure on the tooth means in a direction towards the opening to energize the loop and to subsequently grip the strip upon removal of pressure on the tooth means to automatically shift the strip in a direction away from the container. Particularly another object is to form the resilient and bent loop with spaced front legs and with spaced rear legs diverged from the front legs from which the resilient fingers depend and which are fixed to the pawls while the rear legs are interconnected by bridge means adapted to abut the container, the arrangement being such that the front and rear legs are normally appreciably diverged from each other to maintain the movable feeding means in a normal foremost position. More particularly, another object resides in interconnecting the upper portions of the front and rear legs of the resilient loop with externally convexed and internally concaved portions to maintain the front and rear legs in a normal diverged or biased relation. Another object resides in providing spaced rails extending from the container for linearly and slidably guiding the staple strip away from the container. Another object resides in the provision of stop means on the container to limit its insertion into a stapling machine or tacker. Another object is to provide an unobstructed passageway between the rails to receive and permit displacement of the spaced resilient fingers and tooth means in a direction towards or away from the container.

To these ends the present invention broadly consists in providing a disposable cartridge adapted to be removably received in stapling machines or tackers and adapted to utilize a flexible staple element belt adapted to be formed into a pack and having juxtapositioned and substantially rectilinear elements; characterized in that, said cartridge comprises a container for holding said pack and having an opening to issue a strip of said belt out of said container, feeding means for shifting said strip away from said opening, and means carried by said container for movably holding said feeding means to permit displacement of the latter relative to the container.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in Which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the staple element belt carrying cartridge illustrating the swingable and slidable feeding means straddling the front part of the staple element strip of the belt.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the staple element roll or pack adapted to be housed by the container of the cartridge.

FIG. 3 is an exploded and perspective view of the container and its rails, and the feeding means which comprises the bent U-shaped resilient means and the spaced pawls to which the bent resilient means is secured when the parts are assembled.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cartridge carrying the swingable and slidable pawls to which the front legs of the looped resilient means are attached.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged horizontal transverse sectional view of the container on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1 illustrating the inner rabbeted faces of the companion sections of the container.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view on the line 66 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 7 illustrates a fragmentary bottom view of the disposable cartridge.

In the drawings, the elastic, flexible and foldable staple element belt SE is adapted to be closely wound upon itself in the form of roll or pack R (FIG. 2). Broadly speaking, this belt consists of rectilinear and juxtapositioned elements of suitable steel wire resiliently connected by the elastic coating 60 (FIG. 6) reinforced if desired by the relatively thin and elastic transparent film or tape. TP. R011 R is positioned within a split cartridge SBC which is preferably of a suitable plastic material and if desired transparent. As illustrated cartridge SBC comprises complementary parts generally indicated 61 and 62 defining a container having annular complementary rims 63 and 64 each interrupted at their lower parts by a gap or throat as 65 communicating with slots 67 and 66 defined by staple element guide rails 69 and 68 of the spaced wings 71 and 70. More specifically, rails 69 and 68 may be considered as constituted by spaced upper and lower parallel walls 73 and 72, the upper walls also merging with its associated annular rim to define apex means near throats 65, the latter characterizing an opening at the bottom of the container in the assembled relation of complementary parts 61 and 62. Integral with complementary parts 61 and 62 are the ears or arms 74 each having an overhanging fulcrum pin or post 76. Rims 63 and 64 have their inner margins appropriately rabbeted to provide reduced and interfitting portions 75 and 75 adapted to be glued together after insertion of the staple element roll R.

Also integral with complementary parts 61 and 62 of the container are the laterally extending rearwardly inclined fins or ribs FN having front flat faces 77 adapted to abut the stop faces 78 of spaced sides 79 of a tacker or stapling machine of the type disclosed in my copending patent application SN. 349,862, filed April 20, 1953, now Patent No. 2,938,212, out of which the present application has been divided.

Fulcrum posts 76 swingably carry a pair of pawls P each having an arm 80 merged at its lower end with a laterally arranged extension 81 each provided with a forwardly projecting finger 82 embodying at its forward end a rounded staple element gripping tooth or projection 83. Fingers 82 each include a rearwardly flared portion characterized also by downwardly and rearwardly extending cam face 84.

Each arm 80 of the pawls P is also provided with an inwardly turned and bent flange 85 having spaced studs 86 against which the front spaced legs 87 of the one piece U-shaped leaf spring or resilient means generally indicated 88 is appropriately welded in which case posts 86 will melt into its respective resilient legs 87 and associated leg support 85. Resilient means 88 is bent intermediate thereof to form a loop and has its rear portion 89 defining spaced rear legs interconnected by bridge 90 adapted to abut the container of the disposable cartridge SBC. However, it should be observed that arms 80 of the pawls P each embody an elongated slot 91 fitting over a fulcrum post 76 of the complementary parts 61 and 62 of the cartridge. With front legs 87 of resilient means 88 welded to bent flanges 85 of the pawls P and the latter elfectively retained on posts 76 and with the rear part 89 of resilient means 88 abutting the complementary circular rims 63 and 64 the pawls P have a loose slidable and swingable connection with the cartridge.

Normally legs 87 of the U-shaped and bent spring 88 slope, that is, are biased downwardly and forwardly following the direction of the contour of flanges 85 of pawls P. Of importance it should be realized that front legs 87 of the U-shaped resilient means 88 are reduced at their lower ends to form terminal depending fingers 92 defining means in association with spaced tooth means or convexed projections 83 of the pawls P to shift idly relative to strip SE and in a direction towards throats 65 when cam surfaces 84 are pressed rearwardly, that is, towards the container by suitable means as disclosed in my copending patent application above referred to in which case, pawls P are slidably and swingably displaced rearwardly, causing front legs 87 to swing towards the rear legs or rear portion 89, or in other words, resilient means 88 is energized.

When pressure is removed from cam surfaces 84, that is, from fingers 82, legs 87 automatically retract, carrying forwardly with them swingable and slidable arms 80, that is, both the spaced spring fingers 92 and the spaced tooth means 83 which are spaced from fingers 92 and substantially in vertical alignment therewith now grip the staple element strip SE, consequently shifting the latter forwardly, that is, away from the container of the cartridge.

Coming now to the staple element cartridge SBC, the upper and lower walls 72 and 73 of the staple element strip guide rails 68 and 69 are each provided with a notch or gap 700. The lower walls 73 as well as the inner margins of rims 63 and 64 of the container parts 61 and 62 embody effective interfitting rabbeted faces 75 and 75'. Consequently in the assembled relation of container components 61 and 62, notches 700 of the latter define a passageway 701 between rails 68 and 69. Passageway 701 (FIG. 7) widens out towards the front ends of the spaced rails 68 and 69 to permit reception and movement of the feeding means, and particularly movement of the spaced resilient fingers 92 and the tooth means 83 between the rails.

The cartridge SBC permanently, swingably and slidably carries the staple element strip feeding means in the form of spring controlled and spaced pawls P, and rearward displacement of the pawls are limited by stop faces 260 of arms 74. Also the aligned staple guide rails 68 and 69 which are integral with container components 64 and 63 of the cartridge, straddle staple element strip SE. With pawls P swingably and slidably connected to upper arms 74, the rear intermediate part 89 of the U-shaped and looped resilient means 88 bears against the companion rims 63 and 64 of the container while the front spaced legs 87 are appreciably diverged fiom the spaced legs of the rear portion 89, at which time swingable and slidable pawls P are in their foremost position and against stop faces 280 on upper arms 74.

Various changes may be made in details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereby inherent therein.

I claim:

1. A disposable cartridge adapted to be removably received in a stapling machine and adapted to utilize a flexible staple element belt adapted to be formed into a roll having juxtapositioned and substantially rectilinear staple elements; comprising, a container for holding said roll and having an opening to issue a strip of said belt out of said container, spaced guide rails extending from and forwardly of said container and defining a passageway therebetween in communication with said opening for receiving said strip, strip feeding means having spaced pawls straddling said rails and having spaced strip gripping means interposed in said passageway, and means for swingably and slidably guiding said pawls to permit displacement of said gripping means relative to said rails.

2. The disposable cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said gripping means comprises spaced tooth means carried by said pawls for engaging the lower surface of said strip and resilient means for engaging with the upper surface of said strip.

3. The disposable cartridge according to claim 2 wherein said resilient means comprises a loop carried by said pawls and having spaced resilient fingers to cooperate with the upper surface of said strip.

4. The disposable cartridge according to claim 3 wherein said loop comprises forwardly arranged and spaced legs secured to said pawls and said resilient fingers depend from said legs.

5. The disposable cartridge according to claim 4 wherein the rear portion of said loop comprises rearwardly disposed and spaced legs diverged from said front legs.

6. The disposable cartridge according to claim 5 wherein bridge means interconnects said rearwardly disposed legs for abutting said container.

7. The disposable cartridge according to claim 5 wherein said resilient means is of relatively thin sheet metal and the upper portions of said spaced front and rear legs are integrally merged with spaced outwardly convexed and inwardly concaved portions to normally urge said front legs to be diverged from said rear legs.

8. The disposable cartridge according to claim 3 wherein said container outside thereof carries stop means cooperating with said pawls to limit forward displacement of said pawls away from said opening at which time said spaced resilient fingers and said tooth means are disposed to the rear of but substantially adjacent the foremost element of said strip.

9. The disposable cartridge according to claim 5 wherein said tooth means include cam surfaces adapted upon application of pressure thereon to be actuated rearwardly towards said container for swingably and slidably displacing said pawls to idly shift said spaced fingers and tooth means relative to said strip and towards said opening simultaneously causing said front legs to shift towards said rear legs.

10. The disposable cartridge according to claim 9 wherein upon removal of said pressure said forward legs automatically move away from said rear legs causing said pawls to shift forwardly whereby said resilient fingers and tooth means grip said strip to automatically shift the latter in a direction away from said opening.

11. The disposable cartridge according to claim 4 wherein said front legs are disposed obliquely relative to said strip and said tooth means and spaced fingers cooperate with the longitudinal margins of said strip.

' 12. The disposable cartridge according to claim 3 wherein said tooth means and fingers are vertically but closely spaced from each other to define aligned gaps for receiving said strip.

13. The disposable cartridge. according to claim 1 wherein said container carries means to limit insertion of said feeding means into said machine.

14. The disposable cartridge according to claim 13 wherein said means to limit the insertion of said feeding means comprises projections extending laterally of said container.

15. A disposable cartridge adapted to be removably received in a stapling machine and adapted to utilize a flexible staple element belt adapted to be formed into a roll having juxtapositioned and substantially rectilinear staple elements; comprising, a container for holding said roll and having an opening to issue a strip of said belt out of said container, spaced rails extending from and forwardly of said container and having means for linearly guiding spaced longitudinal margins of said strip and defining a passageway therebetween in communication with said opening for receiving said strip, spaced arms straddling said rails and having extensions disposed at the lower parts thereof and arranged below said rails, spaced tooth means carried by said extensions and interposed between said rails for engaging the lower surface of said strip, spaced fingers above and spaced from said tooth means and interposed between said rails and within said passageway for engaging the upper surface of said strip, said arms in part extending above said rails, means bodily movable with said arms and carrying said fingers, and means movably guiding the upper parts of said arms to permit bodily displacement of said tooth means and fingers between and relatively to said rails.

16. A disposable cartridge adapted to be removably received in a stapling machine and adapted to utilize a flexible staple element belt adapted to be formed into a roll having juxtapositioned and substantially rectilinear staple elements; comprising, a container for holding said roll and having an opening to issue a strip of said belt out of said container, spaced rails extending from and forwardly of said container and having means for linearly guiding spaced longitudinal margins of said strip and defining a passageway therebetween in communication with said opening for receiving said strip, spaced arms straddling said rails and having extensions disposed at the lower parts thereof and below said rails, spaced tooth means carried by said extensions and interposed between said rails for engaging the lower surface of said strip,

spaced spring fingers above and spaced from said tooth means and interposed between said rails and within said passageway for engaging the upper surfaces of said strip, said arms in part extending above said rails, spring means in part bodily movable with said arms and carrying said fingers, and means swingably and slidably guiding the upper parts of said arms to permit bodily displacement of said tooth means and fingers between and relatively to said rails.

17. The disposable cartridge according to claim -16 wherein the spring means .is a relatively thin sheet metal loop having spaced front legs from which said fingers depend and having spaced rear legs normally diverged from resilient fingers disposed in said passageway for shifting said strip along said guide means in a direction away from said container, and movable means secured to said front part and having means adapted to be shifted towards said container for stressing said leaf spring and for idly shifting said resilient fingers over said strip and towards said container.

19. A disposable cartridge adapted to be removably received in stapling machines and adapted to utilize a flexible staple element belt adapted to be formed into a roll having juxtapositioned and substantially rectilinear staple elements; comprising, a container for holding said roll and having an opening to issue a strip of said belt out of said container, spaced guide means disposed forwardly of said container and defining a passageway in communication with said opening for receiving said strip, a loop shaped leaf spring including a front part having spaced resilient fingers disposed in said passageway for shifting said strip along said guide means in a direction away from said container and having a rear part adapted to abut said container, and movable means secured to said front part and having cam means adapted to be displaced towards said container for shifting said front part towards said rear part and for idly shifting said resilient fingers over said strip and towards said container against the resistance of said leaf spring.

20. A staple element cartridge for fastening machines, comprising; a container for receiving a flexible and foldable staple element belt embodying a series of resiliently connected staple elements and embodying an opening for issuing a portion of said belt out of said container, spaced guide means extending from said container for supporting and directing said portion issuing from said opening away from the body of said container, spaced pawls straddling said body, a looped spring having anterior leg portions secured to said pawls and having posterior leg portions diverged from said anterior leg portions and disposed to the rear of said pawls and adapted to yieldingly abut said body, means swingably and slidably securing said pawls, and said anterior leg portions having lower terminals cooperating to shift said belt portion along said guide means and away from said opening.

21. A staple element cartridge for fastening machines, comprising; a container for receiving a flexible and foldable staple element belt embodying a series of resiliently connected staple elements and embodying an opening at the lower part thereof for issuing a portion of said belt out of said-container, spaced guide rails extending from said lower part of the container for supporting and directing said portion issuing from said opening away from the body of said container, spaced arms projecting from said container, spaced pawls, said arms and pawls having means swingably and slidably guiding said pawls, a looped spring having anterior leg portions secured to said pawls and having posterior leg portions normally diverged from said anterior leg portions and disposed to the rear of said pawls and adapted to yieldingly abut said body, said anterior leg portions having lower terminal spring fingers for shifting said belt portion along said guide means and away from said opening, a bridge interconnecting the lower parts of said posterior leg portions, and staple element gripping means carried by the pawls.

' References Cited in the ,file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Schweiger May 15, 1917 1,973,798 Crowley Sept. 18, 1934 1,981,590 Easterling Nov. 20, 1934 2,043,651 Boden June 9, 1936 2,156,502 Lawton May 2, 1939 

1. A DISPOSABLE CARTRIDGE ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY RECEIVED IN A STAPLING MACHINE AND ADAPTED TO UTILIZE A FLEXIBLE STAPLE ELEMENT BELT ADAPTED TO BE FORMED INTO A ROLL HAVING JUXTAPOSITIONED AND SUBSTANTIALLY RECTILINEAR STAPLE ELEMENTS; COMPRISING, A CONTAINER FOR HOLDING SAID ROLL AND HAVING AN OPENING TO ISSUE A STRIP OF SAID BELT OUT OF SAID CONTAINER, SPACED GUIDE RAILS EXTENDING FROM AND FORWARDLY OF SAID CONTAINER AND DEFINING A PASSAGEWAY THEREBETWEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID OPENING FOR RECEIVING SAID STRIP, STRIP FEEDING MEANS HAVING SPACED PAWLS STRADDLING SAID RAILS AND HAVING SPACED STRIP GRIPPING MEANS INTERPOSED IN SAID PASSAGEWAY, AND MEANS FOR SWINGABLY AND SLIDABLY GUIDING SAID PAWLS TO PERMIT DISPLACEMENT OF SAID GRIPPING MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID RAILS. 